Method and apparatus for spinning synthetic shapes



Feb. 25, 1947. 6. TL DETWILER ETAL 2, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNINGSYN'L'I'IE'I'IC SHAPES Filed Nov. 14, 1942.

GEORGE 7. DETW/LEE NAUP/CE A KULP JANFMJA. M056} Je How/m0 0. Mew/0NPatented Feb. 25,1947

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINNING SYNTHETICSHAPES George T. Detwiler, Chester, Maurice P. Kulp, Linwood, Sanford A.Moss, J r., Ridley Park, and Howard D. Merion, West Chester, Pa.,assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., acorporationof Delaware Application November 14, 1942, Serial No. 465,530

7 and the like, is extruded through a spinneret or jet into a liquidbath where the desired shaped article is formed. In the usual practice,a number of spinnerets are positioned in the same bath and the bath iscontinually circulated in order to maintain its composition uniform. Incirculating the bath,- currents and turbulence are created which actadversely on the freshly formed shaped article in the region adjacentthe face of the spinneret and subject it to strains which affect itsdyeing properties. The shaped article will dye unevenly and often with abarre effect. It is found that this actionof the currents and turbulencein the bath can be eliminated by protecting the viscose celluloseacetate, and the like as it emerges from the spinning jet and ischanging from a liquid to a, solid. This can be accomplished byproviding the spinneret with an adjutage or sleeve which projects fromthe spinneret in the direction in which the shaped article is spun. Anadjutage or sleeve having an internal diameter of from one-half to twicethe diameter of the face of the spinneret and a length of from one tofour times the diameter. of the face of the spinneret gives asatisfactory result. To insure the presenceof spinning bath liquid inthe region adjacent the face of the spinneret, means may be provided forpermitting spinning bath liquid to flow into the sleeve member withoutcreating turbulence in the region adjacent the face of the spinneret.

This invention has for its principal object to provide improvements inmethods and apparatus for spinning synthetic shaped articles where thematerial to comprise the article is extruded into a liquid bath.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements inapparatus for spinning synthetic shaped articles into a liquid bath,comprising means for protecting the article being spun from turbulenceand currents in. the bath while the article is still in a plastic ornascent state. a I

Other objects and advantages of the invention 6 Claims.

2 will be apparent from the'following description and accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a form ofapparatus embodying the invention and disposed in normal operatingposition in a spinning bath, the receptaclefor which is shown insection.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line IIII in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a modification of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of modification of the invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of'a further modification of theinvention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7. v

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the reference character Iindicates a rounder which is adapted to be attached at one end to asuitable metered supply of spinning solution. A spinneret 3 is attachedto the other end of the rounder by the jet union indicated generally byreference character}. The union comprises a split male part Sand afemale part 4. The means for protecting the shape being spun while it isstill in a nascent or plastic state comprises the collar member 6 whichis adapted to be attached to the female part of the jet union and whichis formed witha central chamber 12. A sleeve member or adjutage 1 isfitted to the collar member and is provided with a tapered central bore8 leading to the central chamber and in line with the axis of thespinneret. The collar member is provided with passageways I I.communicating with the central chamber I2 which permit spinning bathinreceptacle R to flow into the region adjacent the face of thespinneret. Inwardly extending lugs 9 are formed. on the collar mem-' berwhich cooperate with the outwardly extend: ing lugs H] on the femalepart of the jet union to form a bayonet joint whereby the collar and thesleeve member may be readily attached to the spinneret.

Referring to the modification of the invention another 25. The means forprotecting the shaped article i being spun while it is still in anascent or plastic state comprises concentric sleeve or adjutage members26 and 21 which slip over and engage i the side wall of the spinneret.The sleeve members 26 and 21 are rotatable relative to each other andare provided with longitudinally ex- 1 tending slots 30 and 3irespectively which may i be placed in alignment to permit the sleeves tobe applied to or removed from the spinneret 5 without interrupting thespinning operation. Aligned slots or openings 28 and 29 are formed inthe sleeve members adjacent the face of the 1 spinneret which extend ina direction transverse to theaxis of the sleeve members and permit thespinning bath to flow into the region adjacent the I i face of thespinneret.

Referring to the modification of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6of the drawing, refer- The jet union comprises a split male The meansfor The protecting member is' clamped to the female part of the jetunion, with the cylindrical 1 portion in line with the spinneret. Thecollar 45 has a conical shaped central chamber 4'? which is adapted toreceive and engage the conical j shaped portion of the protectingmember.- The collar is provided with inwardly extending lugs 5| whichcooperate with the outwardly extending lugs 50 on the female partof thejet union to form a bayonet joint wherebythe collar and proftecting'member are clamped to the spinneret.

Passageways 49 are formed in the collarmember which permit spinning bathto fiow into the region adjacent the face of the spinneret.

Referringto Figures '7 and 8 of thedrawing wherein a furthermodification of the invention Pis' shown, reference character 60indicates a 1 rounder, one end of which is adapted to be attached to ametered supply of spinning solution.

A spinneret 64 is attached to the other end of i the rounder by the jetunion indicated generally by reference character 6|. .The jetunioncomprises a split male part 62 and a femalepart 53. g v The means forprotecting the shaped article being @spun while it is still in, thenascent or plastic state comprises themembers 65 and 56 pivotally jmounted on the pins 61 and 68 which extend in parallel relationthroughthe female part of the i jet union. The members 65 and 66 areprovided 1 with a central bore 69 leading to the conical cross currentsin the bath while the filaments- 4 and 66 are spread apart by pivotingon their supporting pins 61 and 68 to permit the thread or yarn that isfirst formed to be drawn through them. Then the members 65 and 66 arebrought together and are retained by the latch member 1 l. The parts ofthe apparatus that'come in contact with the spinning bath and thespinning solution are made of material that is chemically resistant tothe spinning bath and the spinning solution.

It is readily seen that this invention is applicable to the conventionalforms of spinnerets that are used in forming synthetic shaped articlesin'a liquid spinning bath. Thearticle is protected as it emerges fromthe face of the spinneret and is still in a plastic or nascent statefrom cross currents and turbulence in the spinning bath which wouldstrain it and afiect its physical characteristics.

It is to be understood that this invention is applicable to the spinningof all shaped articles such as yarns, threads, filaments, ribbons, andfilms where a solution of the material to comprise the shape, such asviscose, cuprammonium, cellulose acetate, resin solution and the like,is extruded into a liquid bath.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, it is tobe understood that changes and variations may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. The method of forming artificial filaments comprising extruding asolution of the material to be formed into filaments into a liquidcoagulating bath, inducing flow of a portion of the liquid in the bathadjacent the filaments along with the filaments solely by virtue of thetravel of such filaments through the bath, and protecting the filamentsextruded into the bath from are still in a nascent state so that theinduced flow is rendered nonturbulent and substantial ly stream-lineduntil the filaments are sufiiciently solid to resist the strainingaction of such cross currents.

shapedchamber T0into which the spinneret ex- 1 tends. One-half of thecentral bore is formed in each of'the members with the center line lyingin the plane of the meeting faces of the members when they are inoperative position. A central 2- bore l2,'of relatively large diameter,is formed in the end of the members and 66 adjacent the spinneret whichcommunicates with the conical i chamber 1c. This permits spinning bathliquid to flow into the conical'chamber in the region adjacent the faceof the spinneret. The mem 2. An apparatus for spinning artificialfilaments under submerged conditions in a liquid coagulating bathcomprising a rounder, a spinneret having orifices through which materialto be coagulated is extruded, a jet union holding the spinneret on therounder, a channel-defining means comprising two sections movable withrespect to each other, each section being pivotally supported by the jetunion,said channeldefining means being disposed about the spinneretand'extending from behind the spinneret to a substantial distance inadvance thereof, said means providing a channel in alignment with thespinneret, said channel having'a small size such that, at all pointsthroughout its length in ad.- vance of the spinneret face,-its diameteris not substantially greater than twice the diameter of the spinneretface and tapering to an internal diameter atleast as small as thediameter of the spinneret face in a transverse plane a short distance inadvance of the spinneret face to provide a path of travel of reducedarea for the freshly extruded material, and passageways be: tween saidmeans and the jet union back of the spinneret fac communicating with thechannel to permit the coagulating liquid to flow into the same back ofthe face of the spinneret.

3. An apparatus for spinning artificial filaments under submergedconditions in a liquid '5 coagulating bath comprising a normallystationary rounder, a spinneret having orifices through which materialto be coagulated is extruded, a jet union for securing the spinneret tothe rounder, stationary protective means releasably mounted on and beingsupported by the jet union in predetermined position relative to thespinneret, said protective means being disposed about the spinneretextending from behind the spinneret face to a substantial distance inadvance thereof, said protective means providing a channel in alignmentwith the spinneret, said channel having a small size such that, at allpoints throughout its length in advance of the spinneret face, itsdiameter is not substantially greater than twice the diameter of thespinneret face and tapering to an internal diameter at least as small asthe diameter of the spinneret face in a transverse plane a shortdistance in advance of the spinneret face to provide a path of travel ofreduced area for the freshly extruded material, passageways between thejet union and protecting means and communicating with the channel topermit tht coagulating liquid to flow into the same back of the face ofthe spinneret, said protective means and spinneret being entirelysubmerged in a spinning bath so that the coagulating liquid is free tocirculate from the bath through the passageways and th protective meanspast the spinneret and back to the bath.

4. An apparatus for spinning artificial filaments under submergedconditions in a liquid coagulating bath comprising a rounder, aSpinneret having orifices through which material to be coagulated isextruded, a jet union holding the spinneret on the rounder, a sleevemember disposed about the spinneret extending from behind the spinneretto a substantial distance in advance thereof, said sleeve memberproviding a channel in alignment with the spinneret, said channel havinga small size such that, at all points throughout its length in advanceof the spinneret face, its diameter is not substantially greater thantwice the diameter of the spinneret face and tapering to an internaldiameter at least as small as the diameter of the spinneret face in atransverse plane a short distance in advance of the spinneret face toprovide a path of travel of reduced area for the freshly extrudedmaterial, and a collar member releasably supported on the jet union andbeing disposed about the sleeve member for supporting the sleeve memberin predetermined position relative to the spinneret, said collar memberbeing provided with passageways around the jet union back of thespinneret face and communicating with the channel of said sleeve memberto permit the coagulating liquid to flow into the same back of thespinneret face.

5. An apparatus for spinning artificial filaments under submergedconditions in a liquid coagulating bath comprising a rounder, aspinneret having orifices through which material to be coagulated isextruded, a jet union holding the spinneret on the rounder, a collarmember releasably supported on the jet union extending from behind thespinneret to a substantial distance in advance thereof and provided witha chamber adapted to receive the spinneret, a sleeve member carried bythe collar member in predetermined position relative to the spinneretand having a channel forming a continuation of said chamber in alignmentwith the spinneret, said channel having a small size such that, at allpoints throughout its length in advance of the spinneret face, itsdiameter is not substantially greater than twice the diameter of thespinneret face and tapering to an internal diameter at least as small asthe diameter of the spinneret face in a transverse plane a shortdistance in advance of the spinneret face to provide a path of travel ofreduced area for the freshly extruded material, said collar member beingprovided with passageways around the jet union back of the spinneretface and communicating with the chamber of the collar member adapted toreceive the spinneret, to permit the coagulating liquid to now into thesame back of the spinneret face.

6. An apparatus for spinning artificial filaments under submergedconditions in a liquid coagulating bath comprising a rounder, aspinneret having orifices through which material to be coagulated isextruded, a jet union holdingthe spinneret on the rounder, achannel-defining means comprising two sections separable from eachother, each section, being releasably mounted on and being supported bythe jet union in predetermined position relative to the spinneret, saidchannel-defining means being disposed about the spinneret and extendingfrom behind the spinneret to a substantial distance in advance thereof,said means providing a channel in alignment with the spinneret, saidchannel having a small size such that, at all points throughout itslength in advance of the spinneret face, its diameter is notsubstantially greater than twice the diameter of the spinneret face andtapering to an internal diameter at least as small as the diameter ofthe spinneret face in a transverse plane a short distance in advance ofthe spinneret face to provide a path of travel of reduced area for thefreshly extruded material, and passageways between said means and thejet union back of the spinneret face communicating with the channel topermit the coagulating liquid to flow into the same back of the face ofthe spinneret.

GEORGE T. DETWILER.

MAURICE P. KULP. SANFORD A. MOSS, JR. HOWARD D. MERION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date British 1907 BritishJuly 19, 1928 British June 22, 1933 Netherlands Aug. 17, 1923 NumberNumber

